Well-boring apparatus.



F. H. OPFERGBLT.

WELL BORING APPARATUS.

A IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 130.10, 1913.

1,1 1 8,575, Patented Nov. 24, 1914,

FRANK H. OPFERGELT, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS.

WELL-BORING AIIARA'I'US.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 24:, 1914.

Applieation filed December 10, 1913. Serial No. 805,708.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK H. Orrnm Gem, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woodstock, in the county of Me- Henry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Boring Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to well-boring apparatus, particularly apparatus for preventing the earth surrounding a hole from caving in while the hole is being bored. The apparatus employed for this purpose comprises a plurality ,of sheet metal pipes or cylinders adapted to be connected together, and I contemplate the provision. of 1 novel means for securing the adjacent sections together. i y y The apparatus which I prov de is particularly useful in boring drainage wells,

and I shall illustrate said apparatus as used in sinking such a drainage well.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention--Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, ilustrating the apparatus of my invention employed in sinking a drainage well; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating two cylinders adapted to be secured together, this view illustrating the securing means in detail; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view illustrating how the plates constituting the fastening device are secured to the sheet metal pipes or cylinders.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

In boring a drainage well, I utilize an auger of any suitable type, such, for instance, as the one shown in the drawings at 4:, the operating rod to which the auger handle is attached being made in sections adapted to be connected by couplings 5 or other suitable securing means, in order that the rod mayreadily be made longer as the bored well becomes deeper. down to acertain depth (the depth varies in different localities) I usually find that the earth will cave into the hole being bored unless some means is provided to prevent it.

In order to prevent the earth from caving After boring into the hole, I provide a plurality of metal plpes or cylinders 6, preferably construct ed of galvanized iron. In'the top of each one of the cylinders 6 is a pair of diametrically-opposite apertures 7, through which a rod or bar 8 may be passed. It is to be noted that each of the cylinders 6 is of greater-diameter than the hole which the auger 18 03113111010 of boring, and consequently some considerable force must be exerted upon a cylinderto force it down 1nto the ground. This is accomplished by passing the bar Sthrough the apertures in the top of the cylinder, turning the cylinder and" at the same time pressing downwardly upon the bar. It will be seen that y ing earth fromcaving into the hole being bored As the depth of the hole or well pingthe top of the cylinder immediately therebeneath, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Adjacent ends of the cylinders 6 are secured together by novel fastening devices shown most clearlyln Figs. 1 and 2. Se-

cured to each of the cylinders is a metal plate 9 provided with a pluralityof tongues distance from the top of its supportingcyb inder in order that the cylinder immediately thereabove may overlap, the plates 9 being riveted in position, as shown. The plates 9 the cylinder which has been forced into the holewill effectually prevent the surround.

10. Each of the plates 9 is disposed a slight are beveled at 12, 13 and 141 for a purpose to be presently made apparent. Secured by rivets to the lower end of each of the cylinders except the one first sunk into the ground is a plate 15 which is provided with notches 16 arranged to receive the tongues lO of the plates 9. The plates 16 are beveled at 17 18 and 19, as illustrated.

When the cylinders 6 are being forced down into the ground the same are turned by means of bar 8 in the direction of the arrow in Fig.1, and at the same time are forced downwardly. It will be seen that inasmuch as only beveled edges of the locking plates are presented to the earth as the cylinders are forced down and turned, much less exertion is required than would be the case if the beveled edges were not provided. It will be noted, however, that the edges 20 of the plates 15 are not beveled. Earth pass ing against theunbeveled edges of the plates 15 serves to force them into engagement with their associated locking plates 9.

In sinking a hole or well, I find it'desire able to keep the bottom of the lowermost pipe or cylinder slightly below the bottom of the hole, asillustrated in Fig. 1. I am thus enabled to 'rcvent water from collecting in the hole being bored. it will be noted that inasmuch as the cylinders, as they are forced downwardly, are turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, the locking plates of each pair will be held ti htly together.

l Vhen the cylinders 6 are to be removed, a bail 21 may be attached to the rod or'bar 8 and then by means of a rope 22 passing over a pulley or pulley and winch, the cylinders are drawn out of the ground. As the cylinders are raised, the bar 8 is manipulated to turn the cylinders in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus'holding, the locking plates of each pair in tight engagement with each other. The rope 22.n1ay. of course, be. directly attached to the bar 8 if desired.

It is desirable that the ends of the rivets by means of which the locking plates are held is position be flush with the inside surfaces of the cylinders and the outer surfaces of the locking plates. It is a simple matter to countersink the outer ends of the rivets in the locking plates, as shown in the drawings, and in order to have the inner ends of the rivets flush with the inner surfaces of the cylinders, l notch the inner surfaces of the locking plates and force the portions of the cylinders under the rivet heads into said notches, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. i of the drawings.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided means whereby the earth surround- .ing a bored well may be prevented from caving in while the well is being bored, and moreover, that the auger used in boring the well may be lowered into the hole, manipulated therein, and withdrawn through the cylinders, as often as is necessary.

In practice I find it desirable to provide each pair of connected pipes or cylinders with two locking devices, located on dia metrically opposite portions of the pipes or cylinders. l have not thought it necessary to show more than one locking device at each joint.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. lVell-boring apparatus comprising a plurality of cylinders adapted to be disposed in superposed relation and to have their adjacent ends overlap, and locking devices for securing adjacent ends of the cylinders together, each of said locking devices comprising a pair of plates, one carried at the lower end of one cylinder and the other plate carried by the upper end of an adjacent overlapping cylinder, said plates comprising a pair of locking plates having co- 7 acting tongues and notches, one looking plate of each pair being secured to the lower end. of one of said cylinders, and the other locking plate of each pairbeing secured to the upper end of an adjacent cylinder.

3. Well-boring apparatus comprising a plurality of cylinders adapted to be disposed in superposed arrangement, and locking devices for securing ad acent cylinders together, each of said locking devices comprising a pair of plates having cooperating tongues and notches, one plate of each pair being secured to the lower end of one of the cylinders and the other plate of the pair being secured to the upper end of the cylinder immediately therebeneath, together with means for moving said cyllnders longltudirally of their common axis and for turning said cylinders upon their common axis.

l TelLbOi-ing apparatus comprising a plurality of cylinders adapted to be disposed in superposed arrangement, locking devices for securing adj acent cylinders together, each of said locking devices comprising a pair of plates having cooperating tongues and notches, one plate of each pair being secured to the lower end of one'of said cylinders and the other plate being secured to the upper end of 'a cylinder immediately therebeneath, together with means for forcing the cylinders into the ground andturning the same, to hold the locking plates of each pair in tight engagement with each other.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of sheet metal cylinders 2 adapted to be disposed in superposed arrangement, locking devices for securing adacent c hnders together each of sald lock- Q 7 ing devices comprisinga pair of plates havmg cooperating tongues and notches, and means for forcing the cylinders into the ground and for turning them upon their common axis, said plates being so conformed that only beveled edges thereof are presented to the earth when the cylinders are turned therein or moved longitudinally of their common axis in the earth.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of cylinders adapted to be disposed in superposed arrangement with the lower end of the upper cylinder overlapping the upper end of the lower cylinder, and means for securing said cylinders together comprising a pair of locking plates, one of said plates carried by each of said cylinders and said locking plates being provided with cooperating tongues and notches.

7. Apparatusof the class described com prising a plurality of cylinders adapted to be disposed in superposed arrangement, means for forcingsaid cylinders into a hole to prevent the surrounding earth from caving into the hole, and means for securing adjacent cylinders together, each of said securing means comprising a pair of locking plates having cooperating tongues and notches.

8. Apparatus of the, class described come prising a plurality of cylinders adapted to be disposed in superposed arrangement, and means for securing adjacent cylinders together, each of said securing means comprisinga pair of plates having cooperating tongues and notches, said plates being so conformed that only beveled edges thereof are presented to the earth when the cylinders are moved longitudinally of their common axis or are rotated on their axis.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this ith day of December, A. D.

FRANK H. OPFERGELT. Witnesses:

GEORGE D. lVIULLEN, L. L. SOI-IROEDER.

Copies of this, patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

